Folding umbrella

ABSTRACT

A folding umbrella which comprises a contractile pole on the top end of which an upper rib holder of an elongate form is fixedly mounted, a plurality of main ribs having an end rib each and pivotally held at their ends by said upper rib holder on its both sides in the manner of twofold division, a lower rib holder having an elongate form and slidably secured to said pole piercing therethrough and support ribs supporting said main ribs and pivotally held at their ends by said lower rib holder on its both sides in the manner of twofold division, thereby enabling the folding umbrella to be folded in a flat and compact form.

United States Kida Feb. 1, I972 [54] FOLDING UMBRELLA 1,039,977 10/1912 Little ..135/25 1,049,743 l/l9l3 Lundguist... ..135/23 [72] Invent Nwumsh Osaka Japan 2,101,510 12/1937 Rathbun ..135/28 [73] Assignee: Wakabayashi 8: Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan 2,561,435 7/1951 Woodward ....135/ part inter 2,571,634 10/1951 Von Gunten 135/31 X [22] Filed: May 5 1969 3,431,925 3/1969 Kraft ..135/25 [21] Appl. No.: 821,630 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,988,312 4/1968 Germany ..135/20 R Foreign Application Priority Data 1,281,645 V rm ny Sept. 19, 1968 Japan ..43/81727 Primary Examiner peter M. Calm Sept' 1968 Japan "43/81728 Attorney-Woodhams Blanchard & Flynn Oct. 9, 1968 Japan... ....43/88723 Oct. 9, 1968 Japan... ....43/88724 oct. 11, 1968 Japan... ....43/89306 [57] ABSTRACT v 1968 Japan --43/89307 A folding umbrella which comprises a contractile pole on the top end of which an upper rib holder of an elongate form is fix- [52] US. Cl. ..135/20 R, 135/25 R, 135/26 edly mounted, a plurality f main i having an end rib each [51] Int. CI. ..Ab 11/00, A45b 19/04, A45b 19/10 and pivotany held at thcilends by said upper i holder on its [58] Fleld of Search ..135/20, 22, 23-31, both Sides in the manner of twofold division, 8 lower rib h m /25 A having an elongate form and slidably secured to said pole piercing therethrough and support ribs supporting said main [56] References Clted ribs and pivotally held at their ends by said lower rib holder on UNITED STATES PATENTS its both sides in the manner of twofold division, thereby enabling the folding umbrella to be folded in a flat and coni- 2,264,881 12/1941 Merbin ..135/25 R pactform,

16,340 1/1857 Selden .....135/25 838,895 12/1906 Pelusi 135/25 A 1 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEU FEB 11972 3338.668

sum 1 BF 3 INVENIOR BYMMH/% A OR PATENTED FEB 1 I972 SHEET 2 BF 3 INVENTOR Maw/5w Wm TTORNEYS PATENTED FEB I BTZ SHEET 3 0F 3 A ORNEYS FOLDING UMBRELLA The invention relates to a folding umbrella and more particularly to a folding umbrella which is adapted to be folded in a flat form thereby to be compact when folded in comparison with conventional folding umbrellas.

The known folding umbrellas generally comprises a contractile pole with upper and lower rib holders which are of a substantially circular form and a plurality of main ribs which are folding or contractile and are respectively supported at their intermediate portions by support ribs, the ends of said main ribs and the ends of said support ribs being pivotally held by said upper rib holder and said lower rib holder respectively on their peripheries at regular intervals. Thus, when the umbrella is folded, the ribs and an umbrella cloth are arranged uniformly around the pole, thereby rendering the folded umbrella substantially cylindrical. Accordingly, the conventional folding umbrella has been accompanied by such drawback that, when it is put in a bag etc., there is unavoidably formed an unavailing space, thus causing, as a whole, a relatively large space to be required. Therefore, there has been a desideratum among users for a folding umbrella which is more compact when folded.

The present invention has been made in order to meet such desideraturn.

According to the present invention, there is provided a folding umbrella which comprises a contractile pole on the top end of which an upper rib holder of an elongate form is fixedly mounted, a plurality of main ribs having an end rib each and pivotally held at their ends by said upper rib holder on its both sides in the manner of twofold division, a lower rib holder having an elongate form and slidably secured to said pole piercing therethrough and support ribs supporting said main ribs and pivotally held at their ends by said lower rib holder on its both sides in the manner of twofold division, thereby enabling the folding umbrella to be folded in a flat form. In addition, there is provided a folding umbrella of the feature as described above, wherein a main rib of which the one end is pivotally held by an upper rib holder is connected to an end rib through the medium of a rib folding means so that an umbrella rib structure can be folded in three, thereby enabling the folding umbrella to be folded in a shorter length.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a folding umbrella which is adapted to be folded in a flat form thereby to be compact when folded in comparison with the conventional folding umbrella.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a folding umbrella of the character described above, which can be folded in a shorter length,

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a folding umbrella of the feature described, which is easy to handle, durable and simple in structure, and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a partly cut away side view of a folding umbrella according to the present invention, from which an umbrella cloth has been removed;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the lower rib holder shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the upper rib holder shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partly cut away side view of another folding umbrella according to the present invention, from which an umbrella cloth has been removed;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the upper rib holder shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view takenalong the line AA of FIG. 4, shown in the folded state;

FIG. 7 is a partly cut away enlarged perspective view of one form of an alternative rib holder which may be employed in a folding umbrella according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of another form of an alternative rib holder; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of still another form of an alternative rib holder.

Referring now to FIGS. 3, 2 and 3, there is shown a collapsible umbrella embodying the present invention which has ribs adapted to be folded in two. Numeral l2 designates a pole which is contractile as well known. A main rib I has one end to which an end rib 2 is pivotally attached through the medium of a connecting member 3 by means of a pin 4. The main rib l is pivotally held at its other end by an upper rib holder 10 which is fixedly mounted on the top end of the pole 12. A support rib 9 having one end which is pivotally attached to the main rib 1 through the medium of a lug 5 is pivotally held at its other end by a lower rib holder 11 which is slidably secured to the pole l2 piercing therethrough.

Though the upper rib holder 10 and the lower rib holder ll are preferably made of a synthetic resin such as polyethylene terephthalate or polyacetal, they may, of course, be made of any of other suitable materials.

The lower rib holder 11 has an elongate body which has in its both side portions vertical bores 16. Numeral l7 designates a central bored segment through which the pole will pierce. Each of a pair of cylindrical members 8,8 has a determined number of peripherally formed vertical grooves 6 adapted to receive the ends of the support ribs 9 and a peripheral annular groove 7 adapted to receive a wire for binding the ends of support ribs. The lower end portion 18 of the cylindrical member 8 is inserted into the bore 16 and fixed thereto by means of an adhesive agent. In assembling, the support ribs 9 are inserted at their ends into the vertical grooves 6 of the pair of cylindrical members in the manner of twofold division, and bound by means of the wires passing through the holes (not shown) of the ends of the support ribs and held in the annular grooves 7.

The upper rib holder 10 is, as shown in FIG. 3, composed of a body 10a having a top portion 21 which is rectangular in cross section and a cap 19. The top portion 21 with a peripheral flange 22 has on its each side a determined number of peripherally formed vertical grooves 23 adapted to receive the ends of the main ribs 1. The cap 19 adapted to be mounted on the top portion 21 has notches 20 corresponding to said vertical grooves 23. Numeral l4 designates a central threaded projection of the body 10a. The main ribs 1 are inserted at their ends into the vertical grooves 23 and bound together by means of the wire 22a passing through holes (not shown) in the ends of the main ribs and held on the flange 22 of the top portion 21. The top portion 21 to which the ends of the main ribs are attached is covered with the cap 19 so as to press the wire 22a, whereupon the cap 19 is secured by the threaded projection 14 passing through a hole 14a of the cap and a nut 13, whereby the ends of the main ribs can be securely attached to the upper rib holder 10. Numeral l5 designates a pin for fixedly mounting the upper rib holder on the top end of the pole 12. Numerals 24 and 25 in FIG. 3 designate a cylindrical por tion for receiving the pole l2 and a hole receiving the pin 15, respectively.

Owing to the structures of the upper and lower rib holders as described above, the ribs can be simply and securely attached to those elongate rib holders, and when broken, the rib can be easily replaced with another. Moreover, it is noted that a rib holder of such type as described with regard to the lower rib holder may be used as an upper rib holder.

Thus, as may be seen from the foregoing description, when a folding umbrella according to the present invention is folded, the folded ribs are located in both side gap portions between upper and lower elongate rib holders, thereby enabling the umbrella to be flat and compact when folded.

Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, there is shown a collapsible umbrella embodying the present invention which has ribs adapted to be folded in three sections, wherein a main rib of which the one end is pivotally held by an upper rib holder is connected to an end rib through the medium of a rib folding means. Numeral 43 designates a pole which is contractile as well known. An intermediate rib 29 is pivotally connected at its one end to an end rib 33 through the medium of a connecting member 34 and at its other end, through the medium of a joint 32, to one end of a linking rib 31 of which the other end is pivotally attached to a main rib 26 at 30. Thus, the linking rib 31 cooperates with the intermediate rib 29 to form the rib folding means. The main rib 26 is pivotally attached at its one end to a support rib 27 at its intermediate portion 28 and is pivotally held at its other end by an upper rib holder 36 which is fixedly mounted on the top end of the pole 43. The support rib 27 is pivotally attached at its one end to the intermediate rib 29 at 35 and is pivotally held at its other end by a lower rib holder 37 which is slidably secured to the pole 4&3 piercing therethrough. To the upper rib holder 36 and lower rib holder 37 which have an elongate form each are pivotally attached the main ribs and the support ribs, respectively, in the manner of twofold division.

The upper rib holder 36 is, as shown in FIG. 5, of a flat and elongate form and rectangular in cross section. The upper rib holder 36 has on its each relatively long side a determined number of grooves 41 which are arranged alternately with those of the opposite side and extend to near the opposite side. To the groove 41 is pivotally attached the end of a main rib 26 which is adapted to be stretched to the opposite side. Numeral 39 designates vertical grooves which are peripherally formed on the relatively short sides of the upper rib holder. The main ribs 26 are inserted at their ends into the grooves 39 and 41 and bound by means of a wire (not shown) passing through holes (not shown) in the ribs and held in a groove 40 formed around the periphery of the upper rib holder. A lower rib holder 37 is of the type shown in FIG. 2. Support ribs 27 are inserted at their ends to vertical grooves 45 of a pair of cylindrical portions 38 of the lower rib holder and bound by means of the wires 47 held in the peripherally formed annular grooves 46 of the cylindrical portions. However, it is noted that a rib holder of the same type as the upper rib holder described above may be used as a lower rib holder. The urn brella as mentioned above can, as shown in FIG. 6, be folded in a flat form and in a shorter length. Thus, a folding umbrella which is more compact is provided.

Referring now to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, there are respectively depicted various forms of alternative rib holders which may be substituted for the rib holders shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5.

In FIG. 7, a rib holder 48 which is of a particularly flat and elongate form and rectangular in cross section has on its relatively short sides 49 and on its relatively long sides 50 determined numbers of grooves 51 and 52 which receive the ends of ribs 51a and 52a, respectively. The relatively short side 49 of the rib holder has a horizontal groove 53 which receives a straight wire 61. The grooves 52 formed on the relatively long side 50 of the rib holder are arranged alternately with those of the opposite side and extend the longitudinal axis of the rib holder. There are formed a pair of axially extending grooves 54 each of which communicates with the grooves 52 and 53 at their inner end portions. The groove 54 has at its outer end a notch 56 and at its inner end a bore 57 which pass through the bottom wall 55 of said groove. A U-shaped wire 58 for binding the ends of the ribs 52a is inserted into each of the grooves of both the relatively long sides of the rib holder and pierces at its one end 59 into the bore 57, and the end projecting from the bottom wall is bent so as to engage the bottom wall at its underside (not shown). The other end portion 60 of the wire 58 is bent at 62 as depicted and is mounted on a ribs-attaching wire 61 of the relatively short side of the rib holder so as to press the wire 61 into the groove 53. As described, the ends of the ribs can be pivotally secured to the rib holder merely by inserting and pressing the wires 61 and 58, whereby the operation for assembling the rib structure can be markedly simplified. In FIG. 7 the rib holder is shown in the form of an upper rib holder, but the same structure is applicable to a lower rib holder.

In FIG. 8, a rib holder 63 of an elongate form has, on its each side, peripherally formed grooves 65 of less than the number of ribs 66 to be attached. Numeral 64 designates a central bored segment through which the pole will pierce. The rib 66 is made of a steel strip. A plurality of said ribs are inserted at their ends into the groove 65 in a bundle and are pivotally secured by means of a pin 67. Numeral 68 designates a small hole for pin. Thus, the number of grooves can be reduced. Moreover, the operation of pivotally attaching the ribs to the rib holder at its both sides beside the central portion can be easily done. In FIG. 8 the rib holder is shown in the form of a lower rib holder, but the same structure is applicable to an upper rib holder.

In FIG. 9, a rib holder 69 of an elongate form has on its each side a determined number of lugs 7 i. A central bored portion 74) of the rib holder is adapted to receive the top end of a pole (not shown). The lug '71 has at its central portion a small hole 72. A rib is so formed as to have a two-bladed end (not shown). The two-bladed end of the rib is mounted to the lug 71 so that the lug is put between the blades of the rib. Then, the ribs thus mounted are bound by means of a wire (not shown) passing through the holes 72 of the lugs and the holes of the ends of the ribs and wound around the rib holder 69. Alternatively, the lug may be made so as to have a two-bladed form while the end of the rib is of one blade. As described, the ends of the ribs can be securely attached to the rib holder with remarked ease. In FIG. 9 the rib holder is shown in the form of an upper rib holder, but the same structure is applicable to a lower rib holder.

Thus, the folding umbrella as described, according to the present invention, can be folded in a flat form thereby to be compact when folded, and therefore it is particularly useful as a portable umbrella. Furthermore, it is simple in structure and durable, and can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

While several embodiments of the present invention have been described, it is to be understood that these embodiments are given by way of example only and not in a limiting sense, the scope of the present invention being determined by the ob jects and the claim.

What is claimed is:

1. A folding umbrella which comprises a contractable pole on the top end of which an upper rib holder of an elongate form is fixedly mounted, a plurality of main rib means each having a main rib and an end rib each pivotally connected thereto, each main rib being pivotally held at its inner end by said upper rib holder, a lower rib holder having an elongate form and being slideably mounted on said pole in surrounding relationship thereto, support ribs supporting said main rib means and pivotally held at their ends by said lower rib holder, said upper and lower rib holders each comprising an elongate member having end portions disposed on substantially diametrically opposite sides of said pole, the inner ends of said main ribs and said support ribs being pivotally interconnected to their respective rib holder on the end portions thereof whereby the inner ends of said ribs are thus disposed in two groups located on opposite sides of the pole, thereby enabling the folding umbrella to be folded in a flat form, at least one of said upper and lower rib holders having a plurality of narrow slots formed in the periphery of the end portions thereof for snugly but pivotally receiving therein the ends of the ribs, wherein at least one of the upper rib holder and the lower rib holder comprises an elongated body which is of a particularly flat form and rectangular in cross section and which has on each of its relatively short sides and relatively long sides a determined number of narrow grooves snugly receiving the end of a rib, said grooves on the relatively long side being arranged alternately with those grooves on the opposite long side and extending to the longitudinal axis of said body, said body also having a pair of axially extending grooves communicating with said narrow grooves extending from both the relatively long sides at their inner end portions, each said axially extending groove having at its outer end a notch and at its inner end a bore which passes through the bottom wall of the axially extending groove, said relatively short side of said body having a horizontal groove formed across said grooves on the relatively short side, a pair of substantially straight wire portions each of which binds the ends of ribs and disposed in said tom wall, and which U-shaped wire has to other end bent and received by said notch and mounted on said straight wire por tion held in said horizontal groove on the relatively short side of said body to thereby press said straight wire into said horizontal groove. 

1. A folding umbrella which comprises a contractable pole on the top end of which an upper rib holder of an elongate form is fixedly mounted, a plurality of main rib means each having a main rib and an end rib each pivotally connected thereto, each main rib being pivotally held at its inner end by said upper rib holder, a lower rib holder having an elongate form and being slideably mounted on said pole in surrounding relationship thereto, support ribs supporting said main rib means and pivotally held at their ends by said lower rib holder, said upper and lower rib holders each comprising an elongate member having end portions disposed on substantially diametrically opposite sides of said pole, the inner ends of said main ribs and said support ribs being pivotally interconnected to their respective rib holder on the end portions thereof whereby the inner ends of said ribs are thus disposed in two groups located on opposite sides of the pole, thereby enabling the folding umbrella to be folded in a flat form, at least one of said upper and lower rib holders having a plurality of narrow slots formed in the periphery of the end portions thereof for snugly but pivotally receiving therein the ends of the ribs, wherein at least one of the upper rib holder and the lower rib holder comprises an elongated body which is of a particularly flat form and rectangular in cross section and which has on each of its relatively short sides and relatively long sides a determined number of narrow grooves snugly receiving the end of a rib, said grooves on the relatively long side being arranged alternately with those grooves on the opposite long side and extending to the longitudinal axis of said body, said body also having a pair of axially extending grooves communicating with said narrow grooves extending from both the relatively long sides at their inner end portions, each said axially extending groove having at its outer end a notch and at its inner end a bore which passes through the bottom wall of the axially extending groove, said relatively short side of said body having a horizontal groove formed across said grooves on the relatively short side, a pair of substantially straight wire portions each of which binds the ends of ribs and disposed in said grooves on the relatively short sides, and a pair of U-shaped wires each of which binds the ends of ribs and is inserted in the grooves on both the relatively long sides and has one end piercing said bore and projecting through the bottom wall of said axially extending groove, said one end of said U-shaped wire being bent thereby to engage the underside of said bottom wall, and which U-shaped wire has to other end bent and received by said notch and mounted on said straight wire portion held in said horizontal groove on the relatively short side of said body to thereby press said straight wire into said horizontal groove. 